Six Weeks

Today marks the first of six weeks that Dan and I will have to spend apart. As part of Dan's schooling he has to go and work with Physical Therapists. For different amounts of time over the coarse of his three years in physical therapy school. This is his first one of three affiliations he will be doing. Dan is currently working in Northern Nevada in a tiny town called Winamucka. For the past week I have heard nothing but how much he loves going to work and how fast the day goes. Sounds like he choose the right profession, hun?

Because his new apartment is the size of a shoe box, Tagg and I have moved to Utah for the next six weeks. We are living with my parents and my three younger siblings. And Tagg and I are sure getting spoiled! My sister Mickey said she wanted to ride her bike to work everyday, so that I could have her new car to go places. Which means she has to get up at 5:45 a.m every day!They are all so good to help and play with Tagg, and he sure is loving all the attention. And it has been so nice to hang out with my Sisters and Mom. But, we sure have been missing Dan. And we are so excited to see him next weekend.

First Word!!!!

For those of you who have spent time with Tagg, know that he goes LOVES dogs. So last night after while we were hauling all our groceries into our apartment Tagg saw two little Pomeranian's being walked. Of coarse he ran over and started playing with them. After playing with them for a while, we said good bye and started walking into the apartment. And thats when it happened...... he turned around, pointed to the dog's and said "doggie". It was so cute, and was no suprize that this was his first word (other than Mommy and Daddy). Because he has this little stuffed animal dog called Gizzy that goes everywhere with him; it was the first thing he really got attached to. Plus, as previously stated he loves dogs.

To Wyoming and a wedding

I love new babies! The new baby smell and the tiny little hands and feet just make me all warm and happy inside. Well, this past week Tagg and I got to stay with my sister Aubrey and her family. We went to help her so she could just worry about taking care of their third and newest little girl Candice. My sister and her hubby Ben make the CUTEST girls!
It was so fun to go and spend a week with them, even if we were all sick the entire time. Between wiping noses, coughs, trips to the doctor and being delirious from lack of sleep, my two older nieces kept us all laughing with their impressions of Pip from Disney's Enchanted. My two nieces Brooklyn and Alex were such great helpers not only in making us laugh but in taking care of Candice,Tagg and their Mom. One night I even got treated to a foot rub from Alex and got my hair and nails done by Brooklyn. Are they the best or what?
But,I have to say that my favorite parts of that week were; holding baby Candice, doing crafts with Alex and Brooklyn, and heart to hearts with Aubrey on the couch. I always love going to her house. I always leave inspired with new recipes, ways to organize and insights into how to be a better parent.

Aubrey and Candice

Tagg loved hanging out with his cozens, and just being one of the gang. Sometimes I feel like he gets so board just hanging out with me all day. And I feel a bit guilty that he doesn't have any siblings to play with. As you can see in this picture he just isn't sure what to with other kids during tub times. Thank's Walker fam for everything!


Brookyln, Tagg and Alex

That weekend we drove to Utah for my Grandpa Ottesen's wedding. My Grandma Dewey passed away 3 years ago last and March. He had been so lonely and sad until he met Margret (his new wife). It's almost like he has come back to life after meeting her. Now he has a spring in his step and is constantly smiling.


Margret and Grandpa

What an amazing experience it was to be there while they were married. It's hard to explain the feelings of love and joy that filled the room. I am so grateful that I was able to be there to witness this happy event. I am so happy for them both and can hardly wait to get to know Margret better.


Out side the temple after the wedding.

Age is only important if your chesse!

That is what I had to keep telling myself on Monday when I celebrated my 27th birthday. Turning 27 was really hard for me mostly because I don't feel that old. I guess playing peek a boo with a one year old just keeps you feelen' young .
Anyway it sure was a fun day. It was a beautiful day so Tagg and I went and had a picnic at the park. Then we came home and made ice cream cake. Tagg sure enjoyed helping me clean up the beaters. By the end of the cake process he was covered from head to toe and on a total sugar high.


When Dan got home from school he surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, they were amazing! We jumped in the car and headed over to Geisha Steak House for dinner with Jenna and Steven. Geisha is just like Bennie Hanna but cheaper. It was blast to watch all the food and knives flying in the air. But the best part was the food,it was yummy! Then we came home for cake and games. And spared off our great friends Megan and Luke who were kind enough to watch Tagg for us so we could go to dinner.
It sure was hard turning 27, but when you get to eat yummy food and celebrate with family and great friends. It sure makes getting older a little easier to handle.

Dan and I with Jenna and Steven at Geisha Steak House

What a month!

This past month has been one fun filled adventure after another. Each week started with a new visitor and new week full of fun things to do. At the beginning of the month some of our Best friends Tyler and Rose Ellen came to see us. Along with there darling little daughter Natalie. We had so much swimming, going to the shark reef and just hanging out while the kids took naps. Every where we went people would ask us if Natalie and Tagg were twins. Which i guess isn't to crazy considering they are only a week apart in age.Poor Dan wasn't able to play much due to his busy school schedule. But he was able to squeeze in time for a few fun things.

My sister Becca flew into town that same week, so she could enjoy her spring brake in sin city with us. I love it when sisters come to visit. She was such a good sport about just going with the flow and at making things even more fun.

Tyler,Rose Ellen, Natalie, Dan, Tagg and I hiking around at Red Rock Canyon.

All of us trying to touch the horse shoe crabs and sting rays at the Shark Reef

Next came my sister Becca who came to play with us for her spring brake. She has been dying to go to the wax museum ever since we moved here. So we found some two for one coupons and she and Dan went and got to hang out with all there favorite people. They loved all the fun things you can do to the figures.

Becca chillen' with Abe her favorite President

Lets face it Dan just wants to be like Mike!

Tagg and I then jumped on a plane with Becca that Saturday to go Utah. My Grandpa is getting re-married so I went up to help my Mom get everything ready for my Step Grandma to move in. I am so excited to my Grandpa and Miss Margret. I know how much I miss Dan when I am gone for a week. I can't even image how lonely and sad I would be if he had been gone for three years. Yeah Grandpa!

Our friends Jenna and Steven came up with Dan to pick us up. On Friday we had a fun but very frustrating day trying to help them find housing by BYU. They will be moving up there in April to go to school and we are sure going to miss them.

On Saterday were were able to take Tagg to the Zoo. He is such an animal lover. He tries to hug and kiss animal if they come on t.v. And he loves snuggling any kind of stuffed animal. Anywho, he loved the zoo and really seemed to love the monkeys. He would just sit there and point, and rock back and forth as he talked really fast gibberish to them. It was supper cute!

I ran home from the zoo to attend my little brother Jame's junior prom. He looked so handsome all decked out in his tux with is his black high top converse. He looked liked such stud doing the promenade. It was so fun to see him show off his dance moves. He even tried to show me a few as we danced. But gave up quickly due to my lack of dance skills. I had a hard time holding back the tears as we danced, and I don't know why. I guess it's just cuz I love him.

Our little fam at Hogle Zoo

James and Mom at Prom

It was hard to leave the fam to come home. But having my sister Sarah and her family come to visit the day after we got back. Made the adjustment much more bareable! It was so much fun having sleep overs, hiking red rock,going swimming.Sarah and I even got away for a while to go shopping just us no kids. But I have to say my favorite thing we did while they were here was to go and see the Dolphin and Wild Cats exhibit. I loved watching the dolphins swim around and jump out of the water. They also had the cutest little baby leopard, that all the kids just loved.

Tagg, me, Emma,Sarah, Jackson,Ella and Ben at the dolphin and wild cats exhibit.

Now life as started to get back into the daily routine again with naps and story times. Which I must admit is kind of nice after having a month of non stop action. But we sure did love having everyone come and visit.

These feet were made for walken'!

With in the past two weeks Tagg has just started cruisen' all over the place! He has the cutest little waddle. And he has definitely been enjoying his new found mobility, he just wants to go,go,go all the time!It sure has been fun to see him step out on his own. But it sure has created a new set of challenges for Dan and I. Sitting through church now is impossible, we usually end up roaming the halls for most of the meetings. Sorry that this video isn't vertical, it won't let me move it. Hopefully watching it sideways still gives you a view of our little walker.

Austin's Arrr..some first birthday!

Last Thursday we celebrated Austin's first birthday! For all of you who may not know turning one is a big deal. Mostly for the Mom of the one year old. It's a celebration that you both survived the past year! In spite of the two hour feedings, teething and never ending diaper changing. Now it's hard to imagine life without him and all of these day to day things. This last year has been more fun and full of laughs then we could have thought.

On Thursday we had a big party with some of our really good friends. We had a yummy dinner and of course, presents, cake and ice cream. We decided to do pirates cakes because we love them! And because I agree with Mark Twain who said:

"Some day if we live right and are good, maybe God will let us be pirates."

I make a treasure chest cake for Austin, and filled it with his favorite things. From cheese, anything shinny, tub toys to his favorite toy Elmo. Then made a pirate cake for the rest of us to enjoy. The pirate unfortunately had his left ear fall off right before the party.

Before and After

Austin loved diving right into his cake. To our surprise he ate about half of his cake. After cake a little tub time was a must! Austin seemed to enjoy his big day and all the attention and presents he received. But I think one of his favorite things he got on his birthday was his new friend Boyce. Our friends from BYU Sara and Mark just moved to Vegas. And this was our first time seeing them, since Sara and I were eating saltines and making visits to the toilet together. It was so fun to see them and to watch Boyce and Tagg be so happy playing and eating together.

Tagg and Boyce